Film Review: Daughter (2023)

Unsettling mysterious drama told in various chapter points completely captivates from the opening eyebrow raising moment, to the impending scorching finale.

Daughter, is an effective indie film directed by relatively newcomer to the auteur chair, Corey Deshon, on point with his cast selection and deep focus of despair.

Low key but wild, less is best when it comes to spoiler-free shocks in the storyline, so I’ll keep plot descriptions sparse for your complete viewing pleasure.

Against type, legendary Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow) is abhorrent as bearded, weird and menacing, getting under your skin as Father, obvious leader of a household with a partner and siblings held against their will.

Inside a secluded farmhouse things are eerie, twisted and downright inhumane.

Father seems to think life is conspiracy filled and unpredictably dangerous, this is the way he lives as the messed-up gas mask wearing patriarch of doom.

Wow!! What a performance from Casper.

He’s successfully been a villain before but here you ultimately forget its him creating subtle tension with his every stare or gesture.

Vivien Ngo, as newly recruited daughter / sister, is complex in mannerisms and reactions to sudden captivity. Terrific Elyse Dinh, impresses in the layered role.

The pair played mother-daughter previously on television series, Queen Sugar.

Abrupt, bizarre early sequences set the scene, determining tone fast.

Not for all tastes, this is gloomily provocative, if you can handle it.